Zoe and I sat down in the bar he had just left; we occupied a small corner booth. The thick tobacco haze and dark mood lighting made our drinking companion look even more vampiric than he had appeared outside, despite the fact that his eyes had cleared out to human normal and he wasn't pushing the supernatural vibe. Zoe stayed sensibly silent; she knew she was slightly out of her element when it came to this sort of foe.
"So, start with the story." I said when our first round of drinks came.
"Your disappearance was quite a shock to all of us. Vampires as well. You were a celebrity in your day, Dresden. One who started a war for one lost soul. One with extensive contacts in both the Summer and Winter Courts. One with powerful friends, and foes, in your own Council.
"It was a great shock, then, when our warriors returned from fighting you, and reported that you had vanished on the Ways. Your death wasn't accepted for years, especially by some members of your own Council. They were searching for a great deal of time."
"I'd imagine so. Ebenezar wouldn't have stopped looking until he found me, or he found proof of my death."
"Whether or not he personally believed it, I do not know. I do not profess to be an expert of the history of the time. I do know, from our own histories, that McCoy fell in line with the rest of the Council when you were declared dead. We sent our envoy that night; we offered peace. Full diplomatic restoration and communication, now that the prime stick in the mud was gone. It took your people some politicking, but they agreed, for the best interests of the mortal and supernatural world alike. The war was wreaking havoc in the mortal realm, uncontrolled warriors and vagrant mortal weapons floating around without a great deal of purpose."
"Okay, so the Council and the Courts made a deal. What happened?" I growled.
"More than 100 years happened, Wizard. The greater Court was serious about the peace. We didn't want to be fighting wizards at every turn, despite our greater numbers and greater familiarity with the mortal world. We had survival on our minds.
"The world was growing darker, even for our kind. We may be supernatural beings, but the environment on Earth-that-was faded fast, damaged irreparably by the clumsy and foolish mortals."
Zoe shot him a look. "No offense." he said, glancing at her.
"None taken." she said smugly.
"When the generation ships were planned, after the new star system was discovered, humanity almost pulled itself together. They made their way out into the stars, with their old, familiar predators hitching a ride with them. I know that the White Court made it out into the 'Verse, as well as ghouls and a few other kinds of folk."
"The Sidhe Courts?" I asked, a dull dread floating in my belly.
"They had difficulty dealing with the destruction of Earth, linked as they were with the world. I'm not certain many of them are still around, or if any actually could go on the Arks."
I finally asked the question I had wanted to. "What about the Council?"
"They couldn't risk the Arks. The generation ships were big, as big as cities, but even a few Wizards floating around their decks would muck up the ships too much, damage their delicate technological workings. Too much was at stake for humanity. Some, the lesser talents, might have made it through. Others, that had set aside their powers, would find the ships comfortable enough. Couldn't hardly call them wizards at that point, though."
My head dropped, then picked up again. Shouldn't show weakness to a predator. He appeared sympathetic enough, but I'd been ambushed by predators I'd underestimated before.
"I haven't heard of the Council staking any claims in the 'Verse. I'm sorry."
"Not as much as I am." I murmured, suddenly overwhelmed.
"That's my cue to go, I think." Vanrasi said, getting up and leaving a few plat on the table to cover the drinks. He left quickly, and departed into the night.
"Let's get back to Serenity." Zoe whispered, and helped me up.
We bumped into River and Jayne on the way back. Both froze upon seeing us; they had avoided Mal and Inara all afternoon, and thought they had done an admirable job hiding from us.
Zoe had put on a stern face when she saw them, then it finally cracked and she gave River a quick hug, and Jayne a small smile. He grinned when he interpreted the acceptance from Zoe.
She helped me into my bunk, feeling as drained as I was. Bob leered at her, as she stood there.
"Hey, I might get that ridealong after all!" I threw a shirt to cover the little perv, and he spluttered for a while before becoming silent.
She sat on the bunk beside me, putting an arm around me. "I'm sorry."
"Not every day you find out you're the last of your kind."
"I know." she soothed, leaning her head on my shoulder. "It's not easy. I just was wondering...isn't there anything you're glad of here?"
I smiled, a small, weak smile, and she returned it. "I can think of one or two things that's worth thinking about."
She smiled now, and pulled my head to hers. Our lips met, for what felt like the first time. We had kissed before, but those had been mere comfort. This one was something real between us. She pushed me back onto the bed, and began taking off my duster, my boots, my shirt. She kissed me again, and we made out for a brief while, hands beginning to explore, her hands gliding like trails of fire over my scarred chest.
"Got any unicorn-mane rope?" she whispered, chuckling darkly.
I lay there, a beautiful Amazon in my arms, with long, flowing curly hair that cascaded across my chest.
My times with Anastasia had been all too few since I had met her, and had been purely physical; we had enjoyed each other. With Susan, It felt as though we were sipping from each others' souls, taking communion with the spirit; she'd been so full of energy and life.
Zoe had been different. This had been catharsis for her and me, as much as it was making love. It had been at turns passionate and gentle, a tide of emotions and simple waves of need.
Both of us had needed this.
Mal hadn't missed us both coming out of my bunk in the morning; he gave us both the stink-eye and went on about his business (or pleasure, considering we still had leave).
We had breakfast on the boat, and Mal seemed somewhat displeased all around. I wondered if Inara had come clean with him.
He saw me and Zoe sitting side-by-side, chatting with Kaylee and Simon and River and Jayne. River sat next to Jayne, as always, but the two were sitting just a little closer than usual. Mal was watching closely now, trying to decide what was throwing off the dynamics of his galley.
I noticed River growing tense now, as she eyed the Captain and saw the waves of annoyance radiate off him.
"Something the matter, Captain?" she said, innocent look on her face.
"Just eatin' breakfast, little 'Tross."
"Of course." she said, rolling her eyes mightily.
"We have received report that Serenity is landed on Harvest. We should be able to reach them within 1 day if we immediately leave here."
"Excellent. The CEO will be sending someone to meet us."
"They weren't specific?"
"No. Simply said, someone will be meeting us."
Mal cornered me after breakfast, before Zoe and I were planning to go exploring for the day.
"What's going on between you and my First Mate?"
"If I were Bob, I'd probably tell you all sorts of things. I'm me though, so I'm not going to break confidence."
He narrowed his eyes. "Just how long were you planning on staying here?"
My face probably got a bit stormy itself, and he backed away a half step. My annoyed face is probably closer to furious wrath than a lot of people's. "Is that a threat?" Temper, Harry. I heard a feminine voice say.
None of your business, Lash, unless you were being a voyeur last night.
I am beholden to you for my very life, dear host, so it is indeed my business if you get yourself pushed out an airlock or shot for killing this man.
"N-no, not a threat. Just a question. You been looking for a way to go home. Do you really think she'd go back with you?"
"I-" and I suddenly thought about it for a moment. My wrath slowly cooled down. "I honestly hadn't thought about it. I was just following my instincts."
"Then you'd best decide. If you're stayin', and you're welcome to, I ain't partic'larly got a problem with it, as Zoe seems pretty set on it her ownself. But if you're leavin', and you'll be either leavin' heartbreak in your path, or takin' away my first mate, it's best to not get involved now."
"I think that's my choice, and not yours, Mal." I heard Zoe say from the side. She was standing with her arms crossed, her face as hard as stone.
"Zo-"
"I don't want to hear about it, Mal. When it affects the running of this ship, then we can discuss it. Until then, my private life is none of your damned business."
Mal fled, then, looking for "Captainy" things to do.
I turned to Zoe, then, and my doubt must have been evident on my face, as she turned that iron glare at me, too.
"He's right, somewhat, Zo. I don't know yet if it's possible to return home. There are people there who depend on me, a whole city that needs me to keep the predators off their back."
She softened somewhat, but I still saw a little glimmer of anger. "He's right, then. You need to decide." She whirled on her heel, and would have stormed off, had I not got a hand on her arm.
"Truth be told, I don't want to hurt you, Zo." I said, as I drew her closer, overcoming her resistance. "I don't want to go and leave you behind, the kind of person I never thought I'd find again. But I also can't betray the people who depend on me, like my apprentice...if they know I'm gone, and I've already been gone for more than a month, Carlos Ramirez, one of my fellow Wardens, will be taking care of her with the Council...but I'm still responsible for her."
"I know, Harry." she said, wrapping her arms around me now, burying her face in my neck.
"I don't particularly want to leave here, though, to be honest. It's been nice just being a man again, even if I've already made enemies here. No worried looks at me by my own Council, no veiled threats by vampires...it's been an interesting ride out here."
She looked up at me now, her eyes shining.
"I'd like to find out what's possible, before I decide. If that's okay with you."
"Of course, you feng le shagua."
"Let's go out and explore." I said, smiling now.
